Attributed to David MacGregor of Perth - a late Victorian presentation trophy cup and cover
£6,625
Auction: 14 August 2012 at 15:00 BST
Description
Walker & Hall, Sheffield 1894, the deep tapered vase shaped body with upper border of chased trailing thistles, the main body with twin scroll formed cartouches with finely engraved scene of Alloway and to reverse Tam o Shanter and Souter Johnnie, with foliate displays either side, the lower section with thistle leaves clasping above a waisted stem and spreading thistle chased decoration, with twin acanthus capped slender scroll handles, the pull off cover with thistle leaf gadrooning and surmounted by a rider jumping a fence, the whole raised on an ebonised wooden plinth with applied shield cartouches and presentation plaque reading 'Hurlingham Club Buenos Aires The Aryshire Cup W Samson'
Dimensions
overall height 61cm , 81oz
Footnote
Notes: Although this piece is neither marked nor signed by David MacGregor it is felt that it is likely decorated either by him or at least within his busy Perth workshop.
David MacGregor, self styled 'Engraver to Queen Victoria', was based in Perth from 1863 He trained with leading Edinburgh engravers Begbie & Lee and Thomas Holiday. His skill was undeniable and he is known to have made many high quality engraved and decorated luxury wares. Indeed in 1884 the Goldsmiths Company of London presented him a prize of £10 for the representation of the Royal arms of his Royal Highness Prince of Wales on a silver salver. MacGregor's clients varied from such Royal commission to important local and Scottish gentry and civic and sporting prizes. Even down to such small items as sporting and academic medallions.
Perhaps the largest most important surviving commission was the pair of monumental vases and freedom casket presented to Marquis of Breadalbane in 1894, by tenants of his estates.
As is seen from the Breadalbane presentation silver and many other important engraved commissions MacGregor bought in much of his stock silver and was merely decorator and engraver to the pieces. As his training was mainly in engraving rather than silversmithing this is unsurprising.
Both the finely engraved scenes to this piece follow regular themes used by MacGregor in his designs, recognisable views and recognisable individuals, in this case Alloway and Burns characters. It is obvious from Macgregor's other commissions, including card cases featuring Gainsborough portraits, Royal portraits and scenes of the Breadalbane estate, that his inspiration is not only artistic but was a skilled interpreter of known images.
The fine detailed and skilled rendition of his work is constant and is done with a fine hand and skill in the application and engraving and bold border and cartouche designs is often a noted feature of his larger wares.
The Hurlingham Club, Buenos Aires, takes its name from the famous Hurlingham Club in London; the original and still spiritual home of international polo. It was the first place and club in Argentina to play polo, a sport now synonymous with the country.
Originally founded in 1888 the club now extends over 73 hectares and offers some of the most luxurious polo facilities in the world along with stables for 300 horse, five polo fields, tennis courts, golf course and club house. Further testament to its importance within world polo is that the Argentine Polo Association was founded at the club in 1922.
Although the full connection with the club, Mr W Samson and Ayrshire has not been established this cup is un doubted an important early prize given and competed for by members, perhaps in show jumping. The figural finial of a competing horse and the winners names being an owner, horse and rider, do not suggest the team sport polo or pato that the club is perhaps most famous for.
Provenance;
Mr W Samspon
Hurlingham Club Buenos Aires
Private Collection
References;
'Perth Silver, a guide to Perth silver and Silversmiths' R H Rodger & F Slattery
'Silver; Made in Scotland' G Dalgleish & H Steuart Fothringham